Home counties garden tour

The last time we passed deliberately through this tract of country was in 1812 and 1813; and, comparing it as it is now with what it was then, we have been much gratified by some things, and found cause for regret at several others. We have found a decided improvement in the cottage gardens, we may say everywhere, by the more frequent appearance of flowers in them, and by the prevalence of the China rose, trained against the walls. The cottage dwellings are, on the whole, not worse; and on some estates they are a good deal improved. Many cottages, which before had no gardens, have now considerable portions of ground added to them; unfortunately, not generally adjoining the cottage, but in some neighbouring field; but still there is now hardly a cottage which has not ground attached to it in some way or other. Here and there throughout the country we observed labourers' cottages, of a superior description, erected or erecting, with platforms or terraces round them, and lofty ornamental chimney tops, with ornamental barge-boards, pendants, and pinnacles.